Danish model Helena Christensen recently took to the idyllic beaches of Saint Martin for a fashion shoot, and drew our attention to the stunning beauty of the destination.

With white sandy beaches and heavenly blue seas, it's an island located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and is unspoilt while offering all the amenities of a top-end luxury holiday.

Saint Martin has 37 beaches which are ranked among the finest in the area. You can go diving, surfing, windsurfing or kite-surfing, or simply bask in the sun on the warm golden sands. Night life on St. Martin is considered lively, with casinos, clubs and concerts.

The city of Marigot has boutiques and trendy restaurants. The former fishing village of Grand-Case has a unique Creole charm, with a large number of restaurants in traditional huts and wattle houses. For info, see www.stmartinisland.org

A reason to play away from home

There'll never be a reason for you to be bored again while on the road. The designers at the Estonia-based company Playluggage have come up with suitcases which not only carry your possessions, but also allow you to play various traditional games while you're travelling from place to place.

The surfaces of the suitcases double as game boards for backgammon, Chinese checkers, chess, poker and Parcheesi.

Erasable markers come with a suitcase on which you can draw to your heart's delight. Playluggage has a surface which is compatible with Lego-style blocks.

Game pieces included with many board designs are magnetic, so you don't have to worry about accidentally knocking something over.

www.playluggage.com

Train journeys just got first class

All aboard Ireland's first luxury train! Launching in summer 2016, the Belmond Grand Hibernian is a sumptuously designed touring train, right, offering sightseeing itineraries throughout the 32 counties.

The first journey, 'Legends and Loughs', will be a four-night tour heading to Cork, Killarney, Galway and Westport, with highlights including 'kissing' the Blarney Stone.

The two-night tour 'Realm of Giants' will journey north from Dublin to Belfast and Portrush, and will visit the award-winning Titanic Experience in Belfast and the Giant's Causeway. Both journeys can be combined to create a six-night Grand Tour of Ireland,

Prices will start from €3,160 per person for the two-night journey. www.Belmond.com

Happiness is........the right country

You would think that a happy country would make for a happy holiday destination.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network World Happiness Report 2015 has ranked the happiest countries, based on analysis from leading experts in the fields of economics and neuroscience.